The Vanuatu Maritime College
The Vanuatu Maritime College, which opened this year, is located close to the town of Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo at the site of the former Fisheries Training Centre.
The College, which is ideally located on the waterfront, is well supplied with classrooms, workshops and student residential facilities, all of which have undergone major re-furbishment during the past few months.
Two 10 metre training vessels are attached to the College, one for fisheries training and one for training in small vessel operations, and a 20 metre inter-island cargo/passenger vessel is currently being prepared for delivery after being laid up in Port Vila for some months. This larger vessel will complement the College fleet and will be invaluable for practical training for a wide range of seafarers.
Plans are well advanced for the expansion of the training facilities, a fire fighting complex is currently under construction, a fully equipped and operational ship's engine room located in a large building ashore is scheduled to be constructed next year, a lifeboat in gravity davits will soon be installed, a cargo handling facility comprising single pull MacGregor hatch with derrick(s) and crane will be installed in 2001 and additional classrooms, workshops and residential facilities are planned for 2002.
The College organisational structure includes a Board of Directors to determine policy, an Industry Advisory Group to maintain College/industry communications and a Chief Executive responsible for the overall operation of the College.
A carefully selected team of instructors are in place, committed to quality training with a strong emphasis on the development of practical skills, good seamanship and professionalism.
The mission statement "Quality training for seafarers and fishers at all levels to improve employment opportunities in the maritime and fishing industries and enhance safety at sea" provides the driving force and sets the standard for everything that happens at the College.
In conjunction with the Vanuatu Maritime Authority, the College has established an appropriate certification structure for the domestic shipping sector which aligns closely with STCW requirements and is in harmony with developments elsewhere in the Pacific. Career paths have been developed to allow seafarers working aboard domestic shipping to plan their future and gain the necessary sea service before registering at the College for training.
The College offers a range of competency-based training and assessment programs for domestic seafarers, ranging from basic safety training through deck and engine watchkeeping rating qualifications to certification for Master <500 gross tonnage and Engineer <750 kilowatts, with the aim of ensuring that, before 1 February 2002, all seafarers serving aboard domestic ships will be trained and certificated in accordance with the requirements of STCW 95.
In February 2000 the College will commence fisheries training programs for villagers around the islands of Vanuatu to develop fishing and seafood handling skills, promote safety and assist outboard motor maintenance and small boat repair skills, thereby enhancing the lifestyles of rural people.
